Police is said to have detained an activist of banned outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir along with some jihadi books from Chandgaon residential area in Chittagong city last night.

The detainee is Sharful Awal, 27, son of Jamshed Chowdhury of Rangunia upazila, said Sairul Islam, officer-in-charge of Chandgaon Police Station.  

He was the chairman of the law department at the Islami International University located in Cox's Bazar but quit the job on April 23 on personal grounds, the OC said.

"The evidence from his possessions suggests that Awal has close contact with several militant groups at home and abroad since long," the police official said.

On the basis of information provided by the intelligence branch, police launched a raid at Awal's rented house located at Chandgaon residential area in the port city and detained him last night, the OC said.

Some books and compact discs on jihad were also recovered from his possession, he added.